Clutch mechanism



Feb. 27, 1940. P. E. DOUBLE El AL 2,191,983

QLUTCH MECHANISM Original Filed July 28, 1937 INVENTO S 3 P/U/fi/fi/ 2006/6 5 BY K770i h ascer 1 WW Patented Feb. 27, 1940 PATENT OFFlCE oLUToH MECHANISM Plummer E. Double, Detroit, and Frank Wascher,

- Flint, Mich.

Original application July 28, 1937, Serial No. 156,184. Divided. and this application July 22, 1938, Serial No. 220,731

1 Claim.

This invention relates to clutch mechanism and has particular reference to a clutch adaptable for use with clinch nut machines such as disclosed in our co-pending application S. N. 156,184, filed 6 July 28, 1937, of which this application is a divi sion.

An object of the invention is to generally im-. prove clutches, and provide a device simple in construction and efficient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clutch mechanism which insures a high degree of safety for the operation of a machine to which it is attached. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a clutch which permits the machine to makeone complete operation and then become inoperative until positively actuated again.

The foregoingand other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds, reference being made from time to time to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary detail of a machine,

equipped with our improved clutch mechanism, and illustrates the clutch in neutral position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating the clutch after it has been tripped and is in the process of making an operating cycle.

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken through the clutch operating lever on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the clutch operating pin.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the pin shown in Fig. 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, (Figs. 1 and 2), it will be seen that in the embodiment herein disclosed, we have illustrated our improved clutch mechanism as forming part of a clinch nut machine, the housing of which is 'a casting, designated by the reference numeral Ill, which also serves as a support for the clutch and its associated parts.

The clutch which we designate generally by the reference character ll, consists of a plate I2,

which is freely mounted on the shaft l3 and is adapted to be secured to the engine fly wheel (not shown) by the fillister head screws H. The clutch plate 12 is arranged to engage the pin ll, which is mounted in the clutch collar I5, as hereinafter described. The collar l5 serves as a mounting or retainer for the pin H, which is adapted to slide in a recess formed therein. The collar I5 is press-fitted on the shaft l3, and held against rotation thereon, by milling flat surfaces on either side of the shaft I3, and by providing corresponding flat surfaces on the inner walls of said collar. The pin H is normally held in extended position by means of compression spring H! which is carried in an internal bore l9 provided in one end of the clutch pin H. The spring I8 is arranged to contact the thrust collar 20 which is secured to the clutch collar M5 by means of "rivets 21. The clutch pin i1 is held against rotation by means of a key 22 (Figs. 1 and 2) which is arranged toengage a slot 23 (Fig. 5) formed in the clutcl'i pin ll. The working sur- 0 face 24 of the clutch pin I1 is adapted to engage corresponding working surfaces 25 formed on the face of-the clutch plate l2. The clutch pin H is held in inoperative position by means of the 15 clutch release bar 26, the upper end of which is arranged to engage the slot 2'! formed in the under sideof the clutch pin H. The clutch release bar is slidably mounted in recesses formed in the main housing l0 and secured against displacement by cover plates 23 and 29 which are secured in position by cap screws 30. The clutch release bar 26 is normally held in upward position by means of a compression spring 3|, which rests at the bottom on the casting l I), and at the other end abuts the end of a bore 32 formed in the bar 26. The clutch release bar 26 (Figs. 1 and 2) is provided along one side with an under cutbearing surface 33 which is arranged to engage the trip pawl 34 rockingly secured by means of stud 35 to the trip lever 36, the latter being pivoted by means of stud 31 in a boss 38 formed on the inside of the casting Ill. The bar 23 has a notch formed below the surface 33, which is adapted to provide clearance for the trip pawl 34, to prevent 35 its locking against the bar 26 on the up-stroke of the bar. The pawl 34 is arranged to rock downwardly and is held against upward displacement by means of an offset 39, which is arranged to ride on the top surface of the lever 36. A tension spring 40 is secured between a mounting stud 4i, fastened in the upper side of the pawl 34, and a mounting stud 42 which is carried in the upper surface of the trip lever 36. This spring is arranged to return the pawl 34 to its normal position shown in Fig. 1 after it has been rocked 45 downwardly.

A cam block 43 is slidably mounted in the casting Ill and secured against displacement by the cover plate 28, and rests of its own weight on the top of the trip lever 36. The cam block 43 is formed at its upper end' with a curved surface 44 which is adapted to ride on cam surface 45. The cam face 45 is made with a true radius over approximately three-fourths of its circumference, is

and then forms a hump, which is intended to impart a downward motion to the cam block 43. The cam surface 45 is formed on the clutch collar I5, for the purpose of holding the pawl 34 out of engagement with the bar 26, so that the latter may return to its normal position to enable it to engage the slot 21 formed in the clutch pin I1, to disengage the clutch pin I! from the clutch plate I2, upon the completion of a single revolution. With this mechanism the clutch can remain in engaged condition only during one revolution of the fly wheel and constitutes an important feature of this invention.

The trip lever 36 is connected to a foot pedal (not shown) by means of a connecting rod 45 so that the clutch may be engaged for one revolution only by the downward movement of the foot pedal (not shown). In order to re-engage the clutch II after one revolution it is always necessary to release the foot pedal (not shown).

Thus it will be seen that a single revolution may be given to the shaft I3, through the clutch I I, and that the clutch I I will remain in inoperative position at the end of one revolution, unless made operative by a positive movement of the pedal and connecting rod 46.

The operation cycle of the clutch is as follows:

In Fig. 1, the clutch is in neutral. In this position the clutch pin I1 is locked out of operating position by means of bar 25. To engage the clutch, the trip lever 36, which is actuated by a connecting rod 46, which in turn is connected to a foot pedal (not shown), is depressed causing the bar 26 to be released from the clutch pin I'I. Pin I'I, under the influence of spring I8, moves outward toward the clutch plate I2, where the work surface 24 engages corresponding work surface 25 of the plate I2, which is constantly revolving with the fly wheel (not shown) The faces 24 and 25 remain engaged for onerevolution of the shaft. I

The bar 26 is held down during the first part of the revolution by means of the pawl 34 and is released when the pawl 34is disengaged from the surface 33. When the bar 2% is released from the pawl 34, it moves upward under the influence ofthe spring SI, and is then ready to reengage the pin I'I, upon the completion of the revolution. When the bar 26 reengages the pin II, the clutch is disengaged.

In order to prevent the bar. 26 from reengaging the pin I'I, before the commencement of 3, revolution, the bar 26 is held down during the early.

Having described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a clutch mechanism, the combination of a shaft, a driving plate mounted for rotation on said shaft, a collar keyed to said shaft, a pin resiliently mounted in said collar and arranged to contact said plate, a bar 'arrangedto hold said pin away from said plate,;a trip lever, a pawl on said, lever arranged to move said bar, and. a cam block on said lever arranged to contact a cam surface on said collar, whereby said trip' lever is controlled during one revolutionof said collar.

PLUNIMER E. DOUBLE. I FRANK VVASCHER. g 

